Abstract
This paper examines the limitations that are imposed by the characteristics of an electric motor employed in a vehicle powered by fuel cells and having a performance comparable with a petrol- or diesel-engined vehicle of present-day design. It is not, in the first instance, intended to deal with the substitution of fuel cells for the storage battery on an electric truck. As a result of certain desirable characteristics, such as absence of fire risk, silence in operation, manoeuvrability, and ease of control, the battery-operated electric truck has already found a special market despite its relatively high cost of operation when due allowance is made for battery replacements. It cannot compete in any way, however, with the ordinary internal-combustion-engined vehicle for rapid transport over distances of 20 miles and more.
The object of the paper is to consider what limitations may arise that are due to the characteristics of the electric motor even if the fuel cell is developed to the extent of becoming an extremely light and efficient unit.
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